UPDATE: Rail disruption to last until end of the day following fire at Gatwick

James Oxenham

Rail disruption is expected to last until the end of the day following a fire on the tracks outside Gatwick Airport.

Southern Rail said a small fire broke out on line earlier this morning.

Two fire crews from Crawley were called just after 7am to deal with the blaze. It was out before they arrived.

Network Rail said two of the four tracks were damaged as the blaze melted cables and conductor rail. Both are expected to be closed until the end of the day.

A spokesman for Govia Thameslink Railway said: “Our passengers on Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express were all disrupted this morning and will continue to be for the rest of the day with delays of up to 35 minutes.

“Anyone who is held up by 30 minutes or more should claim compensation at any one of our websites or ask station staff for a form.”